Method and device for controlling use of external data network via mobile access point

ABSTRACT

A method and a device for controlling external data network use via a mobile Access Point (AP) are provided. A host device set as the mobile AP determines whether a data-less mode is set, blocks a client device from using the external data network via the mobile AP, if the data-less mode is set, and permits the client device to use the external data network via the mobile AP, if the data-less mode is released. A client device connected to a mobile AP determines whether a data-less mode is set for a host device set as the mobile AP, if the client device is connected to the host device in a state of being connected to a wireless data network, maintains the connection to the wireless data network, if the data-less mode is set, and releases the connection to the wireless data network, if the data-less mode is released.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed on Mar. 14, 2013 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2013-0027577, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for controllinguse, by a client device, of an external data network via a mobile AccessPoint (AP).

2. Description of the Related Art

Various types of mobile devices supporting a Wireless Local Area Network(WLAN) connection, such as Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), have recently beenreleased to the market. However, due to mobility limitation of the WLAN,users cannot use the WLAN while moving.

Recently, some types of mobile terminals, such as smart phones, includea mobile AP function. The mobile AP function allows a mobile terminal tobe used as a mobile AP. The mobile AP function uses a wirelesscapability to implement a tethering function which enables a device,such as a Personal Computer (PC), to connect to a mobile AP and toaccess a network (e.g. the Internet) via a wireless data network, suchas a wireless data network based on a General Packet Radio Service(GPRS), a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), or a Long TermEvolution (LTE), with which the mobile AP is registered. The mobile APfunction is also typically referred to as ‘Wi-Fi tethering’, ‘Wi-Fihotspot’, or ‘portable hotspot’.

Once a mobile AP function is set, a mobile terminal equipped with themobile AP function operates as a mobile AP and a hotspot is formedaround the mobile AP. In the formed hotspot, at least one deviceconnected with the mobile AP may communicate with the mobile AP and alsoconnect to a wireless data network via the mobile AP to access a network(e.g. the Internet). In this case, the mobile terminal which is set asthe mobile AP, such as a smart phone, may be referred to as a hostdevice, and a device which is connected with the mobile AP, such as alaptop computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone, may be referred toas a client device. For connection between the mobile AP (host device)and the client device, a wireless short-range communication, such as aWLAN, a Bluetooth, or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), may beused. Generally, Wi-Fi, which is a WLAN, is widely used for connectionbetween a mobile AP and a client device.

A billing system for a wireless data network generally charges usersbased on the amount of data (e.g. number of packets) transmitted. Thus,when a user of a mobile terminal desires to access a network (e.g. theInternet), the user may prefer to access the Internet by using a WLANinstead of using a wireless data network with which the mobile terminalis registered, if the WLAN, which is connected with a low-rate or freeexternal data network, such as a wired data network, is available. Forexample, the mobile terminal's user connects the mobile terminal to aWLAN AP which may access the Internet via the external data network, andaccesses the Internet by using the external data network via theconnected WLAN AP.

When a mobile terminal connected with a wireless data network isconnected to a WLAN AP and thus may use an external data network via theWLAN AP, the mobile terminal typically releases connection with thewireless data network. Thereafter, if the mobile terminal cannot use theexternal data network via the WLAN AP any longer, the mobile terminalreleases connection to the WLAN AP and connects back to the wirelessdata network.

Similarly, when a mobile terminal, such as a smart phone, connected witha wireless data network is connected to a mobile AP as a client device,the client device typically releases connection with the wireless datanetwork. In this state, if access to the Internet is required, theclient device may access the Internet by using an external data networkthrough the mobile AP, instead of using the connection-released wirelessdata network.

The above information is presented as background information only toassist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determinationhas been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the abovemight be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As such, when the client device is connected to the mobile AP, access ofthe client device to the Internet is made by using the external datanetwork of the mobile AP at all times. As a result, a billing target foruse of the external data network by the client device is the mobileterminal which operates as a host device. If the external data networkof the mobile AP is the external wireless data network, the user of thehost device may be charged an additional wireless data fee. Moreparticularly, unless the host device has no burden in the data feebecause of subscribing to an unlimited data plan, the user of the hostdevice may be charged an additional wireless data fee for use, by theclient device, of the external wireless data network.

Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentdisclosure is to provide a method and a device for controlling use of anexternal data network (or external data network use) of a client devicevia a mobile Access Point (AP).

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for selectively blocking or permitting external data network useof a client device via a mobile AP.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for automatically blocking or permitting external data networkuse of a client device via a mobile AP, according to a state ofconnection of a host device to the external data network.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for selectively blocking or permitting external data network useof a client device via a mobile AP, by at least one of a host device andthe client device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for selectively blocking or permitting external data network useof a client device via a mobile AP, for at least one of each clientdevice and each data sharing application.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for selectively limiting the amount of use of external data (oran external data usage of a client device via a mobile AP.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for selectively limiting an external data usage of a clientdevice via a mobile AP, for at least one of each client device and eachdata sharing application.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a method and adevice for allowing a client device to continuously use a previouslyconnected wireless data network if the client device is connected to amobile AP.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method forcontrolling external data network use of a client device via a mobile APby a host device set as the mobile AP is provided. The method includesdetermining whether a data-less mode is set, blocking the client devicefrom using the external data network via the mobile AP if the data-lessmode is set, and permitting the client device to use the external datanetwork via the mobile AP if the data-less mode is released.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a methodfor controlling external data network use via a mobile AP by a clientdevice connected to the mobile AP is provided. The method includesdetermining whether a data-less mode is set for a host device set as themobile AP if the client device is connected to the host device in astate of being connected to a wireless data network, maintaining theconnection to the wireless data network if the data-less mode is set,and releasing the connection to the wireless data network if thedata-less mode is released.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a methodfor controlling external data network use via a mobile AP by a clientdevice of the mobile AP is provided. The method includes determiningwhether a current operation mode is a data sharing application mode, ifthe client device is connected to a host device set as the mobile AP ina state of being connected to a wireless data network, maintaining theconnection to the wireless data network if the current operation mode isthe data sharing application mode, and releasing the connection to thewireless data network if the current operation mode is not the datasharing application mode.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a methodfor controlling external data network use via a mobile AP by a clientdevice connected to the mobile AP is provided. The method includesdetermining whether a current operation mode is a data sharingapplication mode, if the client device is connected to a host device setas the mobile AP in a state of being connected to a wireless datanetwork, determining whether a data-less mode is set for the hostdevice, if the current operation mode is the data sharing applicationmode, maintaining the connection to the wireless data network, if thedata-less mode is set, and releasing the connection to the wireless datanetwork, either if the current operation mode is not the data sharingapplication mode or if the data-less mode is released.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a hostdevice set as a mobile AP is provided. The host device includes awireless short-range communication unit for forming a mobile AP networkwith a client device based on a wireless short-range communication, awireless communication unit for performing wireless data communicationwith a wireless data network, which is an external data network withrespect to the mobile AP network, and a controller for blocking theclient device from using the wireless data network, if a data-less modeis set, and for permitting the client device to use the wireless datanetwork, if the data-less mode is released.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a clientdevice connected to a mobile AP is provided. The client device includesa wireless short-range communication unit for forming a mobile APnetwork with a host device set as the mobile AP based on a wirelessshort-range communication, a wireless communication unit for performinga wireless data communication with a wireless data network, and acontroller for determining whether a data-less mode is set for the hostdevice, if the client device is connected to the host device in a stateof being connected to the wireless data network, for maintaining theconnection to the wireless data network, if the data-less mode is set,and for releasing the connection to the wireless data network, if thedata-less mode is released.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a clientdevice of a mobile AP is provided. The client device includes a wirelessshort-range communication unit for forming a mobile AP network with ahost device set as the mobile AP based on a wireless short-rangecommunication, a wireless communication unit for performing a wirelessdata communication with a wireless data network, and a controller fordetermining whether a current operation mode is a data sharingapplication mode, if the client device is connected to a host device setas the mobile AP in a state of being connected to a wireless datanetwork, for maintaining the connection to the wireless data network, ifthe current operation mode is the data sharing application mode, and forreleasing the connection to the wireless data network, if the currentoperation mode is not the data sharing application mode.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a clientdevice connected to a mobile AP is provided. The client device includesa wireless short-range communication unit for forming a mobile APnetwork with a host device set as the mobile AP based on a wirelessshort-range communication, a wireless communication unit for performinga wireless data communication with a wireless data network, and acontroller for determining whether a current operation mode is a datasharing application mode, if the client device is connected to a hostdevice set as the mobile AP in a state of being connected to a wirelessdata network, for determining whether a data-less mode is set for thehost device, if the current operation mode is the data sharingapplication mode, for maintaining the connection to the wireless datanetwork, if the data-less mode is set, and for releasing the connectionto the wireless data network, either if the current operation mode isnot the data sharing application mode or if the data-less mode isreleased.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating a mobile Access Point (AP)network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a host device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a host device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data-less mode setting state in ahost device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a data-less mode control of a hostdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a data-less mode control of a hostdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a client device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a client device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data-less mode setting state in aclient device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a structural diagram illustrating a mobile AP networkaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a host device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a data-less mode control of a hostdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbersare used to depict the same or similar elements, features, andstructures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosure.

Descriptions of well-known functions, processes, operations, steps,features, elements, structures and/or constructions may be omitted forclarity and conciseness, and to avoid obscuring the subject matter ofthe disclosure.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of thedisclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention is provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that, through the description and claims of thisspecification, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one ormore of such surfaces.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words“comprise”, “include” and “contain” and variations thereof, for example“comprising” and “comprises”, means “including but not limited to”, andis not intended to (and does not) exclude other features, elements,components, integers, steps, processes, operations, characteristics,properties and/or groups thereof.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic,parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations orvariations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those ofskill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effectthe characteristic was intended to provide.

Features, elements, components, integers, steps, processes, operations,functions, characteristics, properties and/or groups thereof describedin conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of theinvention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect,embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

It will be also be appreciated that, throughout the description andclaims of this specification, language in the general form of “X for Y”(where Y is some action, process, activity, operation or step and X issome means for carrying out that action, process, activity, operation orstep) encompasses means X adapted, configured or arranged specifically,but not exclusively, to do Y.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described basedon an example in which a host device, which is set as a mobile AccessPoint (AP), and a client device connected to the mobile AP are smartphones. However, the host device may comprise any suitable type ofdevice. For example, in certain exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, other types of devices based on similar technology may beused. Furthermore, the skilled person will appreciate that exemplaryembodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using devicescomprising one or more modifications relative to the devices describedherein, for example one or more additional components, one or morealternative or equivalent components, and/or one or more componentsomitted.

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram illustrating a mobile AP according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile AP network 104 is configured with a hostdevice 100 and a client device 102. As a mobile terminal, such as asmart phone, which has a mobile AP function, is set as a mobile AP, itoperates as the host device 100 of the mobile AP network 104. Therefore,in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, terms ‘host device’and ‘mobile AP’ are interchangeable. The client device 102 may also be amobile terminal, such as a smart phone, and a device, such as a laptopcomputer or a tablet computer, may also be the client device 102.Connection between the host device 100 and the client device 102 may usea short-range wireless communication, such as a Wireless Local AreaNetwork (WLAN), Bluetooth, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), orthe like, and in exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure,Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), which is a WLAN, is used for the connectionbetween the host device 100 and the client device 102. While only oneclient device 102 is included in the mobile AP network 104 in FIG. 1,multiple client devices may be included in the mobile AP network 104.

The host device 100 and the client device 102 may share a network (e.g.a public network) with which the host device 100 is registered, such asa General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Wideband Code Division MultipleAccess (WCDMA), a Long Term Evolution (LTE), or the like. For example,the client device 102 may use a wireless data network 106 through thehost device 100. In this way, the client device 102 may use the wirelessdata network 106 through the host device 100, such that for the clientdevice 102, the wireless data network 106 is an external data network.Simultaneous use of Wi-Fi and the wireless data network 106 may beimplemented by a technique used in, for example, a Multi-media MessageService (MMS) application. When the MMS application is used during useof the data network through Wi-Fi, another connection, such as acellular connection, instead of a default connection, such as Wi-Fi, maybe possible by using an Application Program Interface (API) of anapplication processor of a mobile terminal in the MMS application. If anapplication which desires to simultaneously use Wi-Fi and the cellularnetwork calls a corresponding API, both types of connection may be usedsimultaneously.

The host device 100 may also be connected to a fixed AP as well as thewireless data network 106. The fixed AP is an AP connected to a wireddata network, and may be a traditional WLAN AP which allows a clientconnected to the fixed AP through a WLAN to use the wired data network.In this case, the client device 102 may also be used as a wired datanetwork through the host device 100. The wired data network may also bean external data network other than the wireless data network with whichthe client device 102 is registered. This case will be described laterwith reference to FIG. 10.

A user of the host device 100 and a user of the client device 102 mayshare contents through a mobile AP by using a data sharing application.In an example of use of the data sharing application, many people mayview the same screen with their respective smart devices. The smartdevices may be, for example, a smart TV, a laptop computer, a tabletcomputer, a smart phone, and the like. Another example of data sharingthrough a mobile AP may be a multi-player game.

When the host device 100 and the client device 102 are connected to usethe data sharing application, the client device 102 may use the externaldata network, such as the wireless data network 106, through the hostdevice 100. If the client device 102 uses an external data network, theuser of the host device 100 may be charged an additional wireless datafee as stated above.

In this regard, for the host device 100, a data-less mode may be set orthe set data-less mode may be released. The data-less mode is a mode forcontrolling use, by the client device 102 via the host device 100, of anexternal data network. When the data-less mode is set for the hostdevice 100, the host device 100 blocks the client device 102 from usingthe external data network via the host device 100. When the data-lessmode is released, the host device 100 permits the client device 102 touse the external data network via the host device 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a host device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the host device 100 is a mobile terminal, such as asmart phone, and may include a controller 200, a wireless communicationunit 202, a Wi-Fi unit 204, an audio unit 206, a memory 208, a display210, and a key input unit 212.

The wireless communication unit 202 performs wireless data communicationwith the wireless data network 106. The Wi-Fi unit 204, which is awireless short-range communication unit, forms the mobile AP network 104with at least one client device including the client device 102 based onWi-Fi communication. The audio unit 206 includes an audio output device,such as a speaker, and an audio input device, such as a microphone, andinputs and outputs various audio signals corresponding to operations ofthe host device 100. The memory 208 stores a program for operations ofthe controller 200 and stores various data according to the operationsof the controller 200. The memory 208 may further include an externalmemory and a storage device, such as a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Thedisplay 210 displays images according to the operations of thecontroller 200. The key input unit 212 provides various key inputs usedfor operations of the host device 100 from the user to the controller200. The key input unit 212 may include a touch screen panel installedon the display 210 and may include keys for inputting numeric andcharacter information and function keys for setting various functions.The controller 200 controls the wireless communication unit 202, theWi-Fi unit 204, the audio unit 206, the memory 208, the display 210, andthe key input unit 212 to perform various functions of the host device100. To implement the controller 200, an application processor, which isa general main controller of a mobile terminal, may additionally executea function of controlling use of an external data network.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a host device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, once the controller 200 of the host device 100starts a mobile AP operation, the controller 200 determines whether adata-less mode is set in step 300. If it is determined that thedata-less mode is set in step 300, the controller 200 blocks the clientdevice 102 from using an external data network via the host device 100in step 302. Thus, in step 304, the client device 102 shares data of adata sharing application with the host device 100, but cannot use theexternal data network.

If it is determined that the data-less mode is not set in step 300, thecontroller 200 permits the client device 102 to use the external datanetwork via the host device 100 in step 306. Thus, in step 308, theclient device 102 shares not only the data of the data sharingapplication, but also the external data network with the host device100.

The controller 200 may indicate a data-less mode setting state using amobile AP indicator displayed on the display 210 as illustrated in FIG.4.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data-less mode setting state in ahost device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 indicates a mobile APindicator when the data-less mode is released, and reference numeral 402indicates a mobile AP indicator when the data-less mode is set. When thedata-less mode is set, the mobile AP indicator 402 includes a data-lessmode icon 404 indicating that the host device 100 is in the data-lessmode. A form or color of the data-less mode icon 404 may be implementeddifferently than illustrated in FIG. 4. In this state, if the data-lessmode is released, the data-less mode icon 404 disappears as in themobile AP indicator 400. Thus, the user of the host device 100 may beaware of whether the data-less mode is set.

Setting or releasing the data-less mode for the host device 100 may beperformed by the user of the host device 100. For example, an item forsetting and releasing the data-less mode may be added to a generalenvironment setting menu of a mobile terminal to allow the user to setor release the data-less mode through the key input unit 212 of the hostdevice 100. The data-less mode may also be manually or automatically setand released by a common carrier with which the host device 100 isregistered or externally set.

The data-less mode may also be automatically set according to driving ofthe data sharing application and driving of the mobile AP. For example,if the mobile AP is driven after driving of the data sharing applicationor the data sharing application is selected during driving of the mobileAP, the data-less mode may be automatically set.

An allowed use amount may be set to limit use of an external datanetwork for each client device, or an allowed use amount may be set tolimit use of an external data network for each data sharing application.For example, an allowed use amount may be set for at least one of eachclient and each data sharing application. The allowed use amount may beset by the user of the host device or a common carrier with which thehost device 100 is registered or may be manually or automatically set byexternal setting.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a data-less mode control of a hostdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, an allowed use amount of an external data networkis set for each client device. The controller 200 of the host device 100determines whether the amount of use of an external data network (or anexternal data network usage) of the client device 102 reaches an allowedusage in step 500. If the external data network usage is less than theallowed usage, the controller 200 releases the data-less mode withrespect to the client device 102 in step 502. On the other hand, if theexternal data network usage reaches the allowed usage in step 500, thecontroller 200 sets the data-less mode for the client device 102 in step504.

Hence, before the external data network usage of the client device 102reaches the allowed usage, the client device 102 is permitted to use theexternal data network. However, if the external data network usage ofthe client device 102 reaches the allowed usage, the client device 102is blocked from using the external data network.

While the foregoing description made with reference to FIG. 5 uses oneclient device 102 as an example, the process illustrated in FIG. 5 isperformed for each client device when at least one client device as wellas the client device 102 are included in the mobile AP network 104.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a data-less mode control of a hostdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, an allowed usage is set for each data sharingapplication. The controller 200 of the host device 100 determineswhether the external data network usage of the client device 102 by thecurrent data sharing application reaches the allowed usage in step 600.If the external data network usage of the client device 102 by thecurrent data sharing application is less than the allowed usage, thecontroller 200 releases the data-less mode for the client device 102 instep 602. On the other hand, if the external data network usage of theclient device 102 by the current data sharing application reaches theallowed usage, the controller 200 sets the data-less mode for the clientdevice 102 in step 604.

Hence, before the external data network usage of the client device 102by the each data sharing application reaches the allowed usage, theclient device 102 is permitted to use the external data network.However, if the external data network usage of the client device 102 bythe each data sharing application reaches the allowed usage, the clientdevice 102 is blocked from using the external data network.

While the foregoing description made with reference to FIG. 6 uses oneclient device 102 as an example, the process illustrated in FIG. 6 maybe performed for each client device for each data sharing applicationwhen at least one client device as well as the client device 102 areincluded in the mobile AP network 104.

Controlling the use of the external data network by the client device102 may be autonomously performed with respect to the client device 102.For example, depending on at least one of whether a data sharingapplication mode is set and whether the data-less mode is set for thehost device 100, the use of the external data network by the clientdevice 102 may be controlled, as will be described below with referenceto FIGS. 7 through 9.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a client device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, the client device 102 is a mobile terminal, such asa smart phone, and includes a controller 700, a wireless communicationunit 702, a Wi-Fi unit 704, an audio unit 706, a memory 708, a display710, and a key input unit 712.

The wireless communication unit 702 performs a wireless datacommunication with a wireless data network (not shown) with which theclient device 102 is registered. The Wi-Fi unit 704, which is a wirelessshort-range communication unit, forms the mobile AP network 104 with thehost device 100 set as the mobile AP based on Wi-Fi communication. Theaudio unit 706 includes an audio output device, such as a speaker, andan audio input device, such as a microphone, and inputs and outputsvarious audio signals according to operations of the client device 203.The memory 708 stores a program for operations of the controller 700 andstores various data according to the operations of the controller 700.The memory 708 may further include an external memory and a storagedevice, such as an HDD. The display 710 displays images according to theoperations of the controller 700. The key input unit 712 providesvarious key inputs used for operations of the client device 102 from theuser to the controller 700. The key input unit 712 may include a touchscreen panel installed on the display 710 and may include keys forinputting numeric and character information and function keys forsetting various functions. The controller 700 controls the wirelesscommunication unit 702, the Wi-Fi unit 704, the audio unit 206, thememory 708, the display 710, and the key input unit 712 to performvarious functions of the host device 700. To implement the controller700, an application processor, which is a general main controller of amobile terminal, may additionally execute a function of controlling useof an external data network.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a client device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the controller 700 of the client device 102 isconnected by the wireless communication unit 702 to a wireless datanetwork with which the client device 102 is registered, if thecontroller 700 is connected to the host device 100, the controller 700determines whether a current operation mode is a data sharingapplication mode in step 800. If the current operation mode is the datasharing application mode, the controller 700 determines whether thedata-less mode is set for the host device 100 in step 802.

For example, the controller 700 performs a ping operation with respectto a particular web page through the host device 100 to determinewhether the data-less mode is set for the host device 100. Theparticular web page may be one of a web page which the client device 102has accessed most recently, a web page which the client device 102visits most frequently, and a web page which is set as a homepage. Thecontroller 700 performs a ping operation by using one of Hyper TextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) addresses of those web pages, and determineswhether the data-less mode is set for the host device 100 based onwhether a response is received to the ping operation. If a response isnot received to the ping operation, it means the use of the externaldata network via the host device 100 is blocked, such that thecontroller 700 determines that the data-less mode is set. If a responseis received to the ping operation, it means that the use of the externaldata network via the host device 100 is permitted, such that thecontroller 700 determines that the data-less mode is released.

In another example, the controller 700 may perform the ping operationwith respect to a preset external network server via the host device 100and determine whether the data-less mode is set for the host device 100,depending on whether a response is received to the ping operation. Thepreset external network server may be, for example, a particular serverdesignated by a common carrier.

In another example, the controller 700 may be notified by the hostdevice 100 of whether the data-less mode is set, and determine whetherthe data-less mode is set for the host device 100 based on thenotification. To this end, the host device 100 notifies the clientdevice 102 of whether the data-less mode is set. Such a notificationoperation may be performed when the client device 102 is connected tothe host device 100.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, when an allowedusage of the external data network is set for each client device or eachdata sharing application, the host device 100 may notify the clientdevice 102 of whether the data-less mode is set if the data-less mode isset or release for the client device 102. The host device 100 may notifythe client device 102 of an allowed usage for the client device 102 oran allowed usage for a currently executed data sharing application mode.The host device 100 may notify the client device 102 of a current usagefor the client device 102 or a current usage for the currently executeddata sharing application mode. The client device 102 may inform the userof an allowed usage and a usage notified by the host device 100 bydisplaying them through the display 710. Before a usage reaches anallowed usage, for example, when the usage reaches 80% of the allowedusage, the client device 102 may inform the user of the usage bydisplaying a phrase regarding the usage through the display 710.

If it is determined that the data-less mode is set for the host device100 in step 804, the controller 700 maintains connection with thewireless data network in step 806. Thus, data of the data sharingapplication is shared with the host device 100 via the Wi-Fi unit 704,but data communication, such as access to the Internet, is performed byusing the wireless data network via the wireless communication unit 702.The data of the data sharing application may also be shared with anotherclient device which may be connected to the mobile AP network 104.Therefore, when the client device 102 is connected to the host device100 to use the data sharing application, if the host device 100 is setto the data-less mode, the client device 102 may continue accessing theInternet via a previously connected wireless data network.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the current operation modeis not the data sharing application mode in step 800 or the data-lessmode is released in step 804, the controller 700 releases connectionwith the wireless data network in step 808. Therefore, if the currentoperation mode is the data sharing application mode and the data-lessmode is released for the host device 100, the client device 102 may usethe data sharing application and the external data network via the hostdevice 100.

In FIG. 8, connection of the client device 102 to the existing wirelessdata network is maintained or released by determining whether thecurrent operation mode is the data sharing application mode and whetherthe data-less mode is set for the host device 100. However, in an actualapplication of the present disclosure, connection of the client device102 to the existing wireless data network may be maintained or releasedbased on either whether the current operation mode is the data sharingapplication mode or whether the data-less mode is set for the hostdevice 100. For example, in an actual application of the presentdisclosure, steps 802 and 804 may be skipped and step 806 or 808 may beperformed after step 800. On the other hand, the process may start withstep 802 while skipping step 800.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data-less mode setting state in aclient device according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, reference numeral 900 indicates a mobile APindicator when the data-less mode is released, and reference numeral 902indicates a mobile AP indicator when the data-less mode is set. When thedata-less mode is set, the mobile AP indicator 902 includes a data-lessmode icon 904 indicating that the client device 102 is in the data-lessmode. The form or color of the data-less mode icon 904 may beimplemented differently than illustrated in FIG. 9. In this state, ifthe data-less mode is released, the data-less mode icon 904 disappearsas in the mobile AP indicator 900. Thus, the user of the client device102 may be aware of whether the data-less mode is set.

Setting and releasing the data-less mode for the host device 100 may beautomatically performed according to a state of connection of the hostdevice 100 to an external data network. For example, depending onwhether the host device 100 subscribes to an unlimited data planregarding the use of wireless data, the data-less mode may beautomatically set or released. For example, if the host device 100 doesnot subscribe to the unlimited data plan, the data-less mode may beautomatically set. Otherwise, if the host device 100 subscribes to theunlimited data plan, the data-less mode may be automatically released.As such, automatic setting or releasing of the data-less mode, accordingto whether the host device 100 subscribes to the unlimited data plan,may be performed by a common carrier to which the host device 100subscribes. When the host device 100 may determine information regardingwhether it subscribes to the unlimited data plan, automatic setting andreleasing of the data-less mode may be performed by the host device 100according to whether the host device 100 subscribes to the unlimiteddata plan.

In another example, as described with reference to FIG. 1, if the hostdevice 100 may be connected to a fixed AP as well as the wireless datanetwork 106, the data-less mode may be automatically set or releasedaccording to whether the host device 100 is connected to the fixed AP.This case will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 through 12.

FIG. 10 is a structural diagram illustrating a mobile AP networkaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, a host device 1000 is connected to a fixed AP 1004as well as the wireless data network 106. The host device 1000corresponds to the host device 100 of FIG. 1. The fixed AP 1004 isconnected to a wired data network 1006 and is also connected to the hostdevice 1000 through a wireless short-range communication, such as aWLAN. In this case, the client device 102 included in an AP mobilenetwork 1002 may also use the wired data network 1006 via the hostdevice 1000. The wired data network 1006 via the fixed AP 1004corresponds to an external data network other than a wireless datanetwork with which the client device 102 is registered.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a host device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the host device 1000 is a mobile terminal, such asa smart phone, and includes a controller 1100, a wireless communicationunit 1102, a first Wi-Fi unit 1104, a second Wi-Fi unit 1106, an audiounit 1108, a memory 1110, a display 1112, and a key input unit 1114.

The wireless communication unit 1102 performs wireless datacommunication with the wireless data network 106. The first Wi-Fi unit1104, which is a wireless short-range communication unit, forms a mobileAP network based on a Wi-Fi communication with at least one clientdevice including the client device 102. The second Wi-Fi unit 1106,which is a wireless short-range communication unit, is connected withthe fixed AP 1004 through a Wi-Fi communication. The audio unit 1108includes an audio output device, such as a speaker, and an audio inputdevice, such as a microphone, and inputs and outputs various audiosignals according to operations of the host device 1000. The memory 1100stores a program for operations of the controller 1100 and storesvarious data according to the operations of the controller 1100. Thememory 1110 may further include an external memory and a storage device,such as an HDD. The display 1112 displays images according to theoperations of the controller 1100. The key input unit 1114 providesvarious key inputs used for operations of the host device 1000 from theuser to the controller 1100. The key input unit 1114 may include a touchscreen panel installed on the display 1112 and may include keys forinputting numeric and character information and function keys forsetting various functions. The controller 1100 controls the wirelesscommunication unit 1102, the first Wi-Fi unit 1104, the second Wi-Fiunit 1106, the audio unit 1108, the memory 1110, the display 1112, andthe key input unit 1114 to perform various functions of the host device1000. To implement the controller 1100, an application processor, whichis a general main controller of a mobile terminal, may additionallyexecute a function of controlling use of an external data network.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a data-less mode control of a hostdevice according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12, the controller 1100 of the host device 1000determines whether the host device 1000 is connected to the fixed AP1004 through the second Wi-Fi unit 1106 in step 1200. If it isdetermined that the host device 1000 is connected to the fixed AP 1004,the controller 1100 releases the data-less mode in step 1202. Thecontroller 1100 determines whether connection with the fixed AP 1004 isreleased in step 1204. If it is determined that connection with thefixed AP 1004 is released, the controller 1100 sets the data-less modein step 1206.

In this way, setting and releasing of the data-less mode for the hostdevice 1000 are performed automatically according to a state ofconnection of the host device 1000 to an external data network.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, when the client device isconnected to the mobile AP, use of an external data network (or externaldata network use) of the client device via the mobile AP is selectivelypermitted or blocked by at least one of the host device and the clientdevice, thereby preventing the host device from being excessivelycharged an unnecessary additional wireless data fee. Moreover, whenexternal data network use of the client device via the mobile AP isblocked, the client device maintains connection to the wireless datanetwork with which the client device is registered, allowing access tothe Internet.

The mobile terminal may download or install and execute a program (forexample, an application) for controlling use of an external data networkfrom a program providing device (for example, a server) located in aremote place, thereby using the program to control use of the externaldata network. For example, once the program for controlling use of theexternal data network is installed in the mobile terminal, the programmay be executed in the mobile terminal to control use of the externaldata network. The program providing device transmits the program to themobile terminal automatically or in response to a transmit request forthe program from the mobile terminal. The program providing device mayadditionally perform service subscription determination, userauthentication, and payment information checking with respect to themobile terminal. The program providing device may include acommunication unit for performing a wired or a wireless communicationwith the mobile terminal, a storage medium for storing the program, anda controller for transmitting the program to the mobile terminal throughthe communication unit. The storage medium may be located inside oroutside the program providing device.

It can be seen that exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure canbe implemented with hardware, software, or a combination of hardware andsoftware. Such arbitrary software may be stored, whether or not erasableor re-recordable, in a volatile or non-volatile storage, such as aRead-Only Memory (ROM) a Random Access Memory (RAM), an optically ormagnetically recordable and machine-readable storage medium, such as aCompact Disc (CD), a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a magnetic disk, amagnetic tape, or the like.

It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media areembodiments of machine-readable (e.g. computer-readable) storage thatare suitable for storing one or more programs comprising instructions orcode that, when executed, implement embodiments of the presentinvention. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the present inventionprovide a program comprising instructions or code for implementing asystem, apparatus and/or method according to any aspect, claims orembodiment disclosed herein, and a machine-readable storage storing sucha program. Such a program may be electronically transferred through anarbitrary medium, such as a communication signal delivered through awired or a wireless connection, and an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure properly includes equivalents thereof.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling external data networkuse of a client device via a mobile Access Point (AP) by a host deviceset as the mobile AP, the method comprising: determining whether adata-less mode is set; blocking the client device from using theexternal data network via the mobile AP, if the data-less mode is set;and permitting the client device to use the external data network viathe mobile AP, if the data-less mode is released.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the data-less mode is set and released depending on at leastone of each client device and each data sharing application.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising, if an allowed usage is set foreach client device: releasing the data-less mode for a client devicewhose external data network usage is less than the allowed usage; andsetting the data-less mode for a client device whose external datanetwork usage has reached the allowed usage.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprising, if an allowed usage is set for each data sharingapplication: releasing the data-less mode for a client device in whichan external data network usage of a data sharing application is lessthan the allowed usage; and setting the data-less mode for a clientdevice in which the external data network usage of the data sharingapplication has reached the allowed usage.
 5. The method of claim 1,further comprising: releasing the data-less mode upon connection to afixed AP when the data-less mode is set; and setting the data-less modeupon release of the connection to the fixed AP.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising: notifying the client device of whether thedata-less mode is set.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying a setting state of the data-less mode through a mobile APindicator.
 8. A method for controlling external data network use via amobile Access Point (AP) by a client device connected to the mobile AP,the method comprising: determining whether a data-less mode is set for ahost device set as the mobile AP, if the client device is connected tothe host device in a state of being connected to a wireless datanetwork; maintaining the connection to the wireless data network if thedata-less mode is set; and releasing the connection to the wireless datanetwork if the data-less mode is released.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the determining of whether the data-less mode is set comprises:performing a ping operation with respect to a particular web page viathe mobile AP; and determining whether the data-less mode is set for thehost device, based on whether a response is received to the pingoperation.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the performing of the pingoperation comprises performing the ping operation by using a Hyper TextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) address of the particular web page, wherein theparticular web page is one of a web page which the client device hasaccessed most recently, a web page which the client device visits mostfrequently, and a web page set as a home page.
 11. The method of claim8, wherein the determining of whether the data-less mode is setcomprises: performing the ping operation with respect to a presetexternal network server via the mobile AP; and determining whether thedata-less mode is set for the host device, based on whether a responseis received to the ping operation.
 12. The method of claim 8, whereinthe determining of whether the data-less mode is set comprises:determining reception of notification from the host device of whetherthe data-less mode is set; and determining whether the data-less mode isset for the host device based on the notification.
 13. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising: displaying a setting state of the data-lessmode through a mobile AP indicator.
 14. A method for controllingexternal data network use via a mobile Access Point (AP) by a clientdevice of the mobile AP, the method comprising: determining whether acurrent operation mode is a data sharing application mode, if the clientdevice is connected to a host device set as the mobile AP in a state ofbeing connected to a wireless data network; maintaining the connectionto the wireless data network, if the current operation mode is the datasharing application mode; and releasing the connection to the wirelessdata network, if the current operation mode is not the data sharingapplication mode.
 15. A method for controlling external data network usevia a mobile Access Point (AP) by a client device connected to themobile AP, the method comprising: determining whether a currentoperation mode is a data sharing application mode, if the client deviceis connected to a host device set as the mobile AP in a state of beingconnected to a wireless data network; determining whether a data-lessmode is set for the host device, if the current operation mode is thedata sharing application mode; maintaining the connection to thewireless data network, if the data-less mode is set; and releasing theconnection to the wireless data network, either if the current operationmode is not the data sharing application mode or if the data-less modeis released.
 16. A host device set as a mobile Access Point (AP), thehost device comprising: a wireless short-range communication unit forforming a mobile AP network with a client device based on a wirelessshort-range communication; a wireless communication unit for performingwireless data communication with a wireless data network, which is anexternal data network with respect to the mobile AP network; and acontroller for blocking the client device from using the wireless datanetwork, if a data-less mode is set, and for permitting the clientdevice to use the wireless data network, if the data-less mode isreleased.
 17. The host device of claim 16, wherein the data-less mode isset and released depending on at least one of each client device andeach data sharing application.
 18. The host device of claim 16, wherein,if an allowed usage is set for each client device, the controllerreleases the data-less mode for a client device whose external datanetwork usage is less than the allowed usage, and sets the data-lessmode for a client device whose external data network usage has reachedthe allowed usage.
 19. The host device of claim 16, wherein, if anallowed usage is set for each data sharing application, the controllerreleases the data-less mode for a client device in which an externaldata network usage of a data sharing application is less than theallowed usage, and sets the data-less mode for a client device in whichthe external data network usage of the data sharing application hasreached the allowed usage.
 20. The host device of claim 16, furthercomprising: a wireless short-range communication unit connected to afixed AP through the wireless short-range communication, wherein, if thedata-less mode is set, the controller releases the data-less mode uponconnection to a fixed AP and sets the data-less mode upon release of theconnection to the fixed AP.
 21. The host device of claim 16, wherein thecontroller notifies the client device of whether the data-less mode isset.
 22. The host device of claim 16, further comprising: a display fordisplaying a setting state of the data-less mode through a mobile APindicator indicating an operation state of the mobile AP under controlof the controller.
 23. A client device connected to a mobile AccessPoint (AP), the client device comprising: a wireless short-rangecommunication unit for forming a mobile AP network with a host deviceset as the mobile AP based on a wireless short-range communication; awireless communication unit for performing a wireless data communicationwith a wireless data network; and a controller for determining whether adata-less mode is set for the host device, if the client device isconnected to the host device in a state of being connected to thewireless data network, for maintaining the connection to the wirelessdata network, if the data-less mode is set, and for releasing theconnection to the wireless data network, if the data-less mode isreleased.
 24. The client device of claim 23, wherein the controllerperforms a ping operation with respect to a particular web page via themobile AP, and determines whether the data-less mode is set for the hostdevice, based on whether a response is received to the ping operation.25. The client device of claim 24, wherein the controller performs theping operation by using a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) address ofthe particular web page, wherein the particular web page is one of a webpage which the client device has accessed most recently, a web pagewhich the client device visits most frequently, and a web page set as ahome page.
 26. The client device of claim 23, wherein the controllerperforms the ping operation with respect to a preset external networkserver via the mobile AP, and determines whether the data-less mode isset for the host device, based on whether a response is received to theping operation.
 27. The client device of claim 23, wherein thecontroller is notified by the host device of whether the data-less modeis set, and determines whether the data-less mode is set for the hostdevice based on the notification.
 28. The client device of claim 23,further comprising: a display for displaying a setting state of thedata-less mode through a mobile AP indicator indicating an operationstate of the mobile AP.
 29. A client device of a mobile Access Point(AP), the client device comprising: a wireless short-range communicationunit for forming a mobile AP network with a host device set as themobile AP based on a wireless short-range communication; a wirelesscommunication unit for performing a wireless data communication with awireless data network; and a controller for determining whether acurrent operation mode is a data sharing application mode, if the clientdevice is connected to a host device set as the mobile AP in a state ofbeing connected to a wireless data network, for maintaining theconnection to the wireless data network, if the current operation modeis the data sharing application mode, and for releasing the connectionto the wireless data network, if the current operation mode is not thedata sharing application mode.
 30. A client device connected to a mobileAccess Point (AP), the client device comprising: a wireless short-rangecommunication unit for forming a mobile AP network with a host deviceset as the mobile AP based on a wireless short-range communication; awireless communication unit for performing a wireless data communicationwith a wireless data network; and a controller for determining whether acurrent operation mode is a data sharing application mode, if the clientdevice is connected to a host device set as the mobile AP in a state ofbeing connected to a wireless data network, for determining whether adata-less mode is set for the host device, if the current operation modeis the data sharing application mode, for maintaining the connection tothe wireless data network, if the data-less mode is set, and forreleasing the connection to the wireless data network, either if thecurrent operation mode is not the data sharing application mode or ifthe data-less mode is released.